Published 4:18 pm, Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Pictured: Anne Burrell and Tavern 1757 owners Tony Mavuli and his son, Tonino Mavuli, judge applicants for the position of executive chef
on an upcoming episode of "Chef Wanted with Anne Burrell."

Pictured: Anne Burrell and Tavern 1757 owners Tony Mavuli and his son, Tonino Mavuli, judge applicants for the position of executive chef
on an upcoming episode of "Chef Wanted with Anne Burrell."

Photo: Contributed Photo

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Pictured: Chefs Ryan Escude, Kelli Daniels, Tommy Valdes and Brian Reilly try out for the position of executive chef of Tavern 1757 in Seymour on an upcoming episode of "Chef Wanted with Anne Burrell."

Pictured: Chefs Ryan Escude, Kelli Daniels, Tommy Valdes and Brian Reilly try out for the position of executive chef of Tavern 1757 in Seymour on an upcoming episode of "Chef Wanted with Anne Burrell."

Photo: Contributed Photo

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Tavern 1757 will be featured on an upcoming episode of the Food Network program "Chef Wanted with Anne Burrell" on Thursday, Aug. 22.

Tavern 1757 will be featured on an upcoming episode of the Food Network program "Chef Wanted with Anne Burrell" on Thursday, Aug. 22.

Photo: Contributed Photo

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Tavern 1757 will be featured on an upcoming episode of the Food Network program "Chef Wanted with Anne Burrell" on Thursday, Aug. 22.

Tavern 1757 will be featured on an upcoming episode of the Food Network program "Chef Wanted with Anne Burrell" on Thursday, Aug. 22.

Photo: Contributed Photo

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Tavern 1757, located in Seymour, serves up a number of Italian-American, dishes, including brick oven pizza.

Tavern 1757, located in Seymour, serves up a number of Italian-American, dishes, including brick oven pizza.

Photo: Contributed Photo

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Tavern 1757, located in Seymour, serves up a number of Italian-American, dishes, including Branzino with olives and fennel.

Tavern 1757, located in Seymour, serves up a number of Italian-American, dishes, including Branzino with olives and fennel.

When the executive chef at Tavern 1757 turned in his notice three months ago, the restaurant was left without a captain to helm the stoves at the rustic Italian hot spot.

In came a famous face from the Food Network to help fill the position.

It was none other than Anne Burrell, the blond, spiky-haired star of "Chef Wanted with Anne Burrell," who arrived at the restaurant on Roosevelt Drive in Seymour earlier this summer to shoot an episode of the reality TV competition. The program follows Burrell to top restaurants as she helps them hunt for -- and ultimately hire -- a new executive chef.

"Tavern 1757 was an adorable, little country restaurant in such a lovely area," Burrell said in an email. "It was delightful to shoot there!"

The episode featuring Tavern 1757 airs on Thursday, Aug. 22, at 10 p.m. The restaurant is accepting reservations for a viewing party that evening.

"We are very excited," restaurant owner Tony Mavuli said. "It was a pleasure to work with Anne Burrell; she's a fantastic lady, she knows her business and she's a lot of fun to be around."

The newly hired chef, whose identity has yet to be revealed, will be working at the restaurant the night the episode airs and start full time in the next few weeks.

Mavuli, who opened Tavern 1757 last October, happily agreed to a request from the show's producers to film at the restaurant in June. Starting with a stack of applications, the producers spent several weeks boiling down the list to the top four candidates, who were then put "through the toughest job interview of their lives," according to the show's website.

Contestants were tasked with serving up several items from the restaurant's menu -- stuffed figs with balsamic, prosciutto and gorgonzola; rabbit hindquarter with polenta rustica, turnips and miso; duck with ubriaco, red wine grapes and crispy skin -- to a dining room packed with hungry patrons.

Muvali said the chefs also were challenged to "use their imaginations"; they responded with cod cake and wild boar.

Following the competitions, Mavuli and his son, co-owner Tonino Mavuli, extended a job offer to their favorite applicant.

"We judged them for the way they delivered, performed and how fast the food came out," said Mavuli, who also owns the Inn at Villa Bianca next door and is featured periodically on WTNH's "In The Kitchen" segment. "I've been in this business for 50 years, so I could definitely see who is the right one."

Burrell agreed with the choice and believes "the absolute right person for the restaurant" was hired.

Mavuli said Tavern 1757 was picked by the Food Network for its high-quality food and charming interior marked by high wood ceilings and stone walls. The menu boasts down home "Italian-American cuisine with a Sardinian influence," he added.

Mavuli was pleased with the performance of all the contestants, and their ability to command the kitchen. But, he said, one chef stood out from the pack.